X-Ray Imaging and Spectroscopy Mission (XRISM)


Announcement

XRISM's first light has been released!

The two instruments are performing exceptionally: Resolve reaching a spectral resolution of 5 eV (exceeding the 7 eV requirement) and Xtend performing as expected. More info here.

The Cycle 1 call for GO proposals has been announced (see the Proposals & Tools webpage.)

[Updated on Jan 5, 2024]
XRISM's Resolve instrument captured data from supernova remnant N132D from the first light of the mission. Inset at right is an image of N132D captured by XRISM's Xtend instrument. See also this article.

The X-Ray Imaging and Spectroscopy Mission (XRISM), which was formerly known as XARM, is a JAXA/NASA collaborative mission, with ESA participation. The objective of the mission is to investigate celestial X-ray objects in the Universe with high-throughput imaging and high-resolution spectroscopy. XRISM was launched from the Tanegashima Space Center at 8:42 a.m on September 7, 2023 JST in Japan (23:42 on September 6, 2023 UT).

The XRISM payload consists of two instruments:

  • Resolve, a soft X-ray spectrometer, which combines a lightweight X-ray Mirror Assembly (XMA) paired with an X-ray calorimeter spectrometer, and provides non-dispersive 5-7 eV energy resolution in the 0.3-12 keV bandpass with a field of view of about 3 arcmin.
  • Xtend, a soft X-ray imager, is an array of four CCD detectors that extend the field of the observatory to 38 arcmin on a side over the energy range 0.4-13 keV, using an identical lightweight X-ray Mirror Assembly.

Their characteristics are similar to the SXS and SXI, respectively, flown on Hitomi. XRISM is designed to resume and recover most of the the science capability lost with the Hitomi mishap, focusing only on the soft X-ray bands. (Hitomi's high energy instruments, HXI and SGD, have no counterparts in XRISM.)

NASA/GSFC develops the Resolve detector system and many of its subsystems together with the X-ray Mirror Assemblies. NASA/GSFC is also responsible for the Science Data Center, which is developing the analysis software for all instruments, the data processing pipeline, as well as support of Guest Observers and the XRISM Guest Observer (GO) Program.


This site is intended primarily for researchers who are interested in XRISM data. Members of the general public, students, and teachers are invited to visit the Students/Teachers/Public section and follow the links.

If you have questions regarding XRISM, concerning, e.g., calibration, analysis, proposing, ToOs, or coordination, please use HEASARC's Feedback form , or click the "HELP" icon to the left.

XRISM Site for the Public at NASA

Latest News

  • XRISM tools available for Cycle 1 GO proposals (21 Feb 2024)
    The XRISM Proposer's Observatory Guide, response files and tools for GO proposal feasibility are now available. In addition, because the Resolve aperture door ("gate valve") has not yet opened, the exposure time limit for GO proposals has been increased to 300 ks per pointing. However, the overall limit per proposal is still 600 ks.
  • XRISM first light (05 Jan 2024)
    XRISM's first light has been released! The two instruments are performing exceptionally: Resolve reaching a spectral resolution of 5 eV (exceeding the 7 eV requirement) and Xtend performing as expected.
  • XRISM Cycle 1 call for GO proposals (04 Jan 2024)
    The XRISM Cycle 1 call for GO proposals has been announced and is now open. See the Proposals and Tools webpage for more information.
  • The 2nd XRISM Community Workshop: Jan. 17-19, 2023 (02 Nov 2023)
    This workshop is to prepare the astronomical community for the upcoming Cycle 1 General Observer Call for Proposals for XRISM. There is no registration fee; however, registration is required. Deadline for in-person participation is Dec 22, 2023.
  • The end of the critical operation period and the start of commissioning for XRISM (11 Sep 2023)
    JAXA announced the end of the critical operation period, which is the period after the separation of the satellite from the launch vehicle until the satellite can maintain a stable and safe condition. XRISM has entered the commissioning period, which will last about three months to verify the functions of the satellite's onboard equipment.